Posts Tagged “Music”
Posted by: punksmurf in Current Affairs, Film, Info, Music, Web/Tech, tags: animal, documentary, gay, lesbian, Music, photography, queer
Firstly, I’m going to post about this truly horrible event. When I first saw the footage I could not believe wat I was seeing. So a warning beforehand; it’s not for the faint hearted, and possibly NSFW. What I’m talking about? A vicious attack that happened earlier where a guide dog was attacked by a pitbull type dog. The owner of the attacking dog fled the scene after he managed to get his dog off the guide dog, leaving the visually impaired owner in great distress. Anyone in the London area: keep an eye out!
Staying in the UK for more news: rock band Skunk Anansie is the latest in a line of many public faces to join the “Some people are gay - get over it” campaign.
Hopefully, Danish filmmakers Iben Haahr Andersen and Minna Grooss are taking their documentary “Hello my name is Lesbian” to film festivals around the world. It’s released on DVD. Judging from the trailer (it has English subs!) it looks like an interesting documentary. Watch it here.
In response to “Humpday”, in which two heterosexual guys (played by Joshua Leonard and Mark Duplass) take their relationship to an entirely different level when they decide to participate in an art film project that involves the two of them having sex, Lynn Shelton made a “sequel” called “Beyond gay“. I watched the short and found it disturbing (in a good way) and very amusing. Warning: even though it isn’t graphic, it’s definitely NSFW.
Earlier this week another episode of Cherry Bomb was posted, and I was delighted to see actor/comedian Jason Stuart amidst the ladies. Showcasing a good sense of humor, Stuart also made several very sensible remarks. This week’s episode was about “The gay and lesbian divide” - a discussion I’ve had with several of my gay friends. I found it interesting to hear what they had to say about it.
Photographer Spencer Tunick has started preparing for another one his famous shoots. In March next year he’ll be one the headliners for the 2010 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. Read more about it here.
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First off I have to say I haven’t been online as much lately (you may have noticed) and apart from busy weekends away from home, it’s also thanks to my new toy:
When a British friend of mine posted this article earlier this week, I could not help but be reminded of my upstairs neighbors. I don’t have a problem with people having sex. I just don’t understand why they have to be so frickin LOUD. It’s like listening to cheap porn. (I was about to say “bad porn”, but isn’t all porn poorly written - if there is a script at all?)
British rock band Skunk Anansie is currently touring Europe. I tried to get tickets, but they sold out in no time. The same goes for added dates. Queer Sighted published an interesting inteview with singer Skin. Read it here.
John Mayer for interviewed for an Australian TV show (that blonde’s kinda cute - I definitely dig her tattoo). He shares with his audience why he doesn’t mind frequenting a gay club (and he is right about drunken straight girls, by the way). He also seems to be steadily adding more ink, I see. And speaking of which, Inked Magazine - with Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington gracing this month’s cover - posted a video on 2009’s True Colors Awards (in no way affiliated with Cyndi Lauper).
Thanks, AJ, for this funny find! Mr. Phelps should stop preaching hate… Anyhoo, South Park tackled the F-word. Read what AfterElton wrote about it. (Yup, that’s AfterEllen’s gay brother.) Then, Newsweek ran an article on how gays on TV once helped promoted tolerance, but how stereotypes are now doing the opposite. One of AfterEllen’s contributors then published her point of view - read it here.
President Obama has - finally - lifted the ban on HIV-positive people entering the country.
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I first heard of Jully through a duet with fellow Canuck Serena Ryder (”My heart cries for you”). Now Canada’s queen of R&B has a new album, and a new single that stands for liberty and freedom. Check out the stylish video for “Running” that was directed by Marc André Debruyne. Jully Black has been nominated for multiple Juno Awards over the last few years, and won Best R&B/Soul Record of the Year in 2008.
On November 23, Jully Black will be releasing her third studio album “The Black Book.” First single “Running” is a bit of a cry for tolerance and change. “Our liberty and freedom is what we should stand for. The situation is hostile, the people need answers. Seconds away from rebellion, you gotta do something,” she proclaims.
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De beroemde Wisseloord Studio’s in Hilversum zijn in zwaar weer geraakt. Voor donderdag 19 november is een executieverkoop gepland van geluids- en muziekapparatuur in opdracht van de Belastingdienst Utrecht-Gooi. De studio, waar artiesten als U2, Elton John, The Police, 50 Cent en Tina Turner opnamen, vierde begin vorig jaar nog het 30-jarig bestaan. Vandaag presenteert Peter Koelewijn er zijn nieuwe cd.
De problemen van Wisseloord lopen al een decennium. Vanaf 1999 hebben de studio’s last van ‘het download-verhaal’ en in 2005 ging Wisseloord al bijna failliet. Toen vertrok het management en nam een kleiner team de taken over. Inmiddels is volgens ingewijden het meeste personeel vertrokken, omdat ze niet betaald werden. Het is dan ook moeilijk iemand van Wisseloord aan de telefoon te krijgen, maar medewerkers schetsen een onthutsend beeld. “Het is echt een hele grote teringzooi hier. Ze zijn hier achter de boel aan het leegtrekken, ik denk dat ik zo ook maar ga vertrekken”, aldus de medewerker die anoniem wenst te blijven.
Een tweede medewerker geeft - eveneens op anonieme basis - toe dat Wisseloord met een schuld kampt. Hij meldt dat een aandeelhouder zich teruggetrokken heeft en hoopt op een doorstart. Persvoorlichter Marcel Homan van de Belastingdienst bevestigt de geplande executieverkoop, maar mag er inhoudelijk geen mededelingen over doen. Hij geeft wel een toelichting in algemene zin: “Als een schuld oploopt, omdat bijvoorbeeld de personeelskosten doorlopen, kan een werknemer contact opnemen met ons.” Als de belastingplichtige in gebreke blijft, gaat op den duur een deurwaarder langs voor beslaglegging van spullen. “Die hangt dan een kaartje aan spullen, die voor verkoop in aanmerking komen en stelt een conceptdatum voor de executieverkoop vast.”
Een executieverkoop volgt volgens Homan meestal een week of 3 à 4 na een beslaglegging. De soep wordt in de meeste gevallen echter niet zo heet gegeten als die wordt opgediend: “De overgrote meerderheid van de beslagleggingen mondt niet uit in een executieverkoop. Tot vlak voor de executieverkoop kan er nog betaald worden en als het geld binnen is, gaat het niet door. Onze inzet is uiteraard ook om een bedrijf door te laten draaien.”
 Het begin van de faam van Wisseloord: de opnames van Def Leppard’s Hysteria in 1986.
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As read on AfterEllen:
When you’re a teenager, rebellion seems like a rite-of-passage. Whether it’s swiping a pint of vodka from your parents’ liquor cabinet or shaving your head, you are an individual going through some serious life changes and you need everyone to know it.
For me, the ultimate outlet for my post-pubescent angst was punk rock. From an ill-advised nose piercing in a scary, Indiana tattoo shop to telling my parents I was going to the mall and ending up in a sketchy basement watching Anti-Flag’s side project, the punk scene introduced me to people I actually related to — feminists, gays, politically-motivated band geeks — many of whom I am still friends with today.
For 17-year-old Michael Knight, his ultimate rebellion came in the form of leaving his mother’s home and heading to a Pakistani madrassa, where he would study Islam. He burned out on the “demands of religious dogma” years later, but in 2003, he went on to write a novel titled The Taqwacores, a “punk-rock manifesto” that went from work of fiction to real, cultural movement:
Melding the Arabic word for god-consciousness with the edge of hardcore punk (hence Taqwacore), Michael imagined a community of Muslim radicals: Mohawked Sufis, riot grrrls in burqas with band patches, skinhead Shi’as. These characters were entirely fictional. But the movement they inspired is very real.
The book became something else when actual Taqwacore bands were popping up nationwide. This caught the attention of filmmaker Omar Majeed, who decided to film the bands as they toured the U.S., leading to the documentary Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam.
After 9/11, many of the Canadian and American Muslims involved in the project felt the need to do some serious venting, and Knight’s book gave them a platform to do so.
Sena Hussain, a lesbian “Pakistani Canadian drag king from Vancouver,” is the front woman for the first all-girl Taqwacore band, The Secret Trial Five. She told the Globe and Mail this spring that she didn’t have much interest in political music until 9/11 seriously changed how Muslims were portrayed in pretty much every aspect of life.
“It’s far from being a religious music, in that it’s not at all similar to Christian rock,” Hussain told the paper. “It’s about Muslims post-9/11, that’s the perspective I take. It’s very political and satirical.”
Hussain’s band caused quite a stir at the Islamic Society of North America’s Chicago convention in 2008. After a reading of the Koran and some “stern, spoken-word stylings,” her band took the stage and burst into their song “Middle Eastern Zombies,” prompting much of the crowd to leave, a call to the police and (the best part) a group of “excited hijabi girls rocking out” and chanting “Stop the hate!”
Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam screened last month in Canada, and will be showing at the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam Nov. 19 to 29.
The film’s goal is to show the wide array of young voices within the Muslim community. People who are willing to challenge everyone: from “homophobic Mullahs to warmongering Western politicians,” Majeed told the Globe and Mail.
“I don’t think Western media as a whole is ready for a complicated Muslim voice — they divide the world into good Muslims and bad Muslims,” Knight said. “But these kids are pissed off about everything.”
For more information about the Taqwacore movement or upcoming film screenings, check out the film’s website.
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Posted by: punksmurf in Current Affairs, Film, Food and Drink, Music, Television, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs, tags: festival, Food and Drink, friend, Music, same sex marriage, tattoo, transsexual, Travel
Currently listening to Tonic (album: Sugar)
The Russian couple who got married in Toronto, Canada, last week by Justice Harvey Brownstone (an out gay Judge) returned to Russia this week to try and force the authorities to recognize their union.
Justice Brownstone penned a wonderful book, drawing from his experiences in Toronto Family Court, called Tug of War: A Judge’s Verdict on Separation, Custody Battles and the Bitter Realities of Family Court (ECW Press, 2009) and was released earlier this year. I still intend on picking it up and reading it.
Trans people who legally change their names will no longer need to provide courts with a doctor’s note after a ruling from New York’s Supreme Court.
Joan Jett rocks in more ways than one: read her interview for Inked Magazine (Inked for a cause).
The ‘net is buzzing with more Lilith Fair news. I, for one, hope to attend one date (I couldn’t the last time due to financial reasons). A guy friend of mine recounts his time at Lilith Fair - read it here. Its tone differs greatly from the one on Popnography. AfterEllen also asks her readers who they would love to see - here. (Easy guess who tops my list, eh?)
SFGate ran an interesting article on chocolate farms on Hawaii.
Hottie Rena Sofer has joined CBS’ “NCIS” as a potential recurring. She will play a no-nonsense attorney with mysterious motives.
CBC is broadcasting my friend Lara’s short, called Sunfish. It’s not geo blocked, so anyone can watch it *HERE*
eurOut published my latest article on straight allies (yay! Thank you, Stacey) and a heart warming tale posted on Dorothy Snarker’s blog. Sounds like a Hollywood movie, eh?
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Posted by: punksmurf in Current Affairs, Music, Web/Tech, tags: Facebook, homophobia, Music, Muslim, politics, same sex marriage, Serena Ryder, Sports
Currently listening to A Girl Called Eddy (album: A Girl Called Eddy)
You might - or might not - have read about the outrage caused by a British “journalist” called Jan Moir. The first time I heard about it was when a British friends of mine started posting about it, clearly showing their disapproval and disgust for Moir’s total ignorance. One even went as far as calling her the C-word (and he is one of the smartest, nicest straight man I know - so for him to use that word…). Anyway, read about it here and the update here (hello, 21,000 complaints and then some). Sounds to me as if Moir has a problem with certain possible “assets” of the homosexual lifestyle. And she’s conveniently forgetting the fact that similar “assets” can be found in heterosexual lifestyles as well. She’s issued some sort of apology in the meantime, but she clearly doesn’t get it. Jan Moir may think she’s not a homophobe, she can at least pride herself in being a bigot.
Fortunately, there are still good things happening in the UK; like this Scottish LGBT-friendly soccer team who are deservedly nominated for a Stonewall Award.
AfterEllen.com reviews an interesting comic book called Dolltopia, which is really a book for all ages, and discusses diversity. I’m not a big fan of the graphics, but it serves its purpose, and it does look interesting to me. Looks like creator Abby Denson’s been promoting Dolltopia across North America.
Globe and Mail ran an interesting article about the wiring of boys’ and girls’ brains. It turns out there’s no significant difference, but it’s magnified by parents… And - surprisingly - same sex schools.
According to this article the Taliban has published a rulebook, and reading it I didn’t know whether to wince or snicker at the stupidity of it all. I mean, any educated person instinctively knows that a band of bearded men telling others to treat women badly (I’m not even sure they are considered second class citizens), what to think, how to act and how to dress cannot be for the greater good. To the advantage of the Taliban; yes. For the greater good; no.
This veteran spoke out in favor of same sex marriage. I can only say that if he’s honored with any medals I am sure he has earned each and every one of them! I’d just want to give a hug and say thank you.
In the meantime President Obama is tackling DADT, the Canadians again show they may not shout as loud as the Americans do, but they are just as great. Halifax’s Chronicle Herald published an article on Canadian forces and their inclusion of gays. A friend of mine can attest to that; she didn’t join till she was 33. And she is still serving 19 years later. Just sayin’, President Obama.
Are you on Facebook, and confused about “live feed” and “news feed”? Check out this page on how to adjust the settings to make it less confusing, and more desirable for you to read (some people seem to post every fifteen minutes - if you know what I mean)…
Charlize Theron. I like her. Vocal human rights advocate. Don’t get me wrong, but she is such a hussy! She kissed a lady for charity. Some lucky lady (she coughed up $140,000 but got a 20-second smooch)…
More Serena Ryder news. (I should get paid for this. I’d settle for a smooch with Serena. Just kidding! Or am I?) She’s currently touring the US with labelmates NeedToBreathe (Serena’s playing Chicago on Halloween!) and “Is it o.k.” will be released in the US on November 3rd - almost a year after its release in homeland Canada. Read more on it here. In the meantime Serena’s also featured in one of City Sonic’s episodes on how she started out. Watch it here.
When I found out Vertical Horizon had a new album out (”Burning the days“) I was thrilled; I wasn’t aware of the fact the band had reformed. Their album “Everything you want” was one of my favorite albums in the late ’90s. Now and then, I still play a couple songs with the singer of my band. Let’s hope they start touring again 
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Posted by: punksmurf in Music, tags: Music, Texas
For all the Texas fans out there (as found on Texas superfan Dirk’s site):
TEXAS guitarist Alistair McErlaine has been moved out of intensive care after a life-threatening brain haemorrhage.
Friends and family who have kept a vigil by his bedside yesterday revealed the 40-year-old musician has made a vital breakthrough.
He was critically ill in hospital after an operation to remove pressure from his brain.
Alistair spent almost a month in the intensive care unit of a London hospital following his collapse on September 10.
Bandmates, including singer Sharleen Spiteri, have been praying for his survival along with his wife Shelly Poole, 37, of the ’90s pop group Alisha’s Attic.
The talented musician and photographer was due to start a recording session with his new project, Red Sky July, before his sudden illness.
Relatives were shocked by his rapid deterioration in September and said he had appeared in good health and displayed no symptoms.
Texas manager Rab Andrew said friends and family were delighted by his progress.
He said: “On Wednesday, Alistair made a great breakthrough and was taken out of intensive care.
“He has now got rid of any viruses that may have been lurking and is thankfully off his life-support machine. He has a really long way to go but it is just great that he is off the danger list. He has made good progress to get this far.
“It will be a long slow process but it is wonderful that he is heading in the right direction.
“Alistair will have to relearn everything but he’s a real fighter.
“I got a message from his wife and it was the best message I have had since it happened.
“She sounded much more upbeat, as she has been through an incredibly tough time.
“Shelly has been fantastic under all this pressure. The doctors don’t know yet how long the recovery will take but he is alive and that is just the first step.”
Last month, Sharleen said: “I am thinking of Ally and all his family at this time. Like everyone else, I am desperately hoping Ally will get well and pull through.”
Fans have posted a string of get well messages on the internet.
Dirk, who runs a Belgian-based fans’ website, wrote: “We all hope that Ally will recover and we wish Shelly and his family and friends lots of strength.”
Fan Stuart Ferguson said: “Best wishes to Ally.”
The Glasgow-born guitarist is one of three founder members to have been with Texas since the band was formed in 1988.
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Currently listening to KINKFM.com (Kink 1400)
My friend Menachem Luchins aka Nuke got a new writing gig at eGO.com - a blog that provides daily questions and comments for discussion and debate. All the discussion, articles and quotes will be centered around eGO.com’s seven principles. Read about it here.
A post on 8asians.com about noodles caught my attention:
Even though Southern California is a melting pot of different cultures and deliciously diverse dining, the ways of the yummy Asian noodles might be lost on lawmakers. Kim Tar noodle factory has been in business for 25 years, supplying restaurants and markets with fresh rice noodles. But, a state law requiring refrigeration of noodles is threatening the life of these Asian noodles. Thankfully, some wise Asians are gathering their forces to fight the man who is trying to keep our noodles down. What I love even more than the fact that they are going to rally for the noodles is that they are planning a press conference at a restaurant in Monterey Park! (I grew up a stone-skip away from Monterey Park and still enjoy delectable Asian cuisine in MP.)
Health officials are standing their ground saying this is a matter of public safety and that “ethnic foods are not treated differently than other foods.” Newsflash health officials — Not all foods are created equal! If it’s customary for rice noodles to be stored at room temperature — and they have been for thousands of years — then storing them in the fridge doesn’t suddenly make them safer to eat! In fact, putting rice noodles in the fridge can ruin them! Asians noodles are not like other pastas. Leave our noodles alone!
Whoever is trying to impose those laws on noodles obviously doesn’t know anything about them. On the upside LA Times reports that the WIC nutrician program’s food vouchers now enables women and children to buy themselves fresh fruit and vegetables. Isn’t that grand?
Another study finds no difference between children raised by gay or straight adoptive parents. DUH! And in the meantime the authors of “And tango makes three” finally have a baby of their own.
Earlier this week Bruce Springsteen debuted a new song, called “Wrecking Ball” at Giants Stadium. Listen to it here. Serena Ryder is currently touring the US with NeedToBreathe, and popped into a studio in Charlottesville for an interview and a couple of songs. Listen to it here. And in the meantime rocker Melissa Etheridge is contemplating using her celebrity to form a high-powered lesbian coalition, made up of fellow famous gay rights activists.
I’m thrilled actress Ming-Na plays an out lesbian Asian-American in Stargate Universe. Read about it here and here. Let’s hope her character has at least a half decent storyline.
This is what Ming-Na had to say about the part: “I’ve never played a gay character, and for me that was such an incredible challenge. And I said, “As long as you write her with absolute depth and she’s well rounded, and there’s no stereotypes, and she’s a real person — then yes, let’s go for it.” Being an Asian woman in this business, I have had to deal with a lot of adversities…So I relate a lot to Camille’s character, because I think being a woman who’s also gay in an environment where she has to be the head of a department - she’s an IOA officer, head of the human resources department, and she is in charge in a man’s world. So it’s a really great challenge.”
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It’s called “One dream“, and I love it! The single will be released shortly.
Are you as excited about the new Lilith Fair as I am? You might wanna check out the discussion thread on their Facebook page…
Also, I’ve been listening to the GoGirls compilation; a compilation of unsigned female (fronted) bands/artists (apart from Sarah Bettens, who supports GoGirls and is on there to show it). I admit I’m a bit biased when it comes to female bands/artists: although I’m very pro-women, I also think that a lot of the music out there is mediocre (or less). Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the songs and songwriting. Each song is the kind any average DJ can play in their radio shows. Listen to it here.
Right now, I really dig the intro of New Day Dawn’s “Misunderstood” (the bass definitely caught my attention there) and the upbeat driving rhythm of HotLites’s “Make me wonder”. My favorite song on it is “Longest Summer” by She Craves.
Little Steven (Springsteen’s proverbial right hand) has his own radio show “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” (nifty little show) and his own record label “Wicked Cool Records”.
He’s signed a Norwegian band called Cocktail Slippers, and the past few days I noticed this a very catchy song of theirs on Dutch alternative radio station KINK FM. Check it out here.
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